Military

12-1. In the 1920s, Germany developed weapons and weapon systems that would be used against the allies in the 1940s. The allied nations did not include TECHINT in intelligence collection efforts. As a result, German scientific and technical advances went largely unnoticed. By the time information did come to light and was made available to Washington and London, it was ignored. These weapons were used during World War II with devastating results.

12-2. During the air battle for Europe, the British used TECHINT to counter the German antiaircraft and night fighter defenses. They did this by exploiting captured aircraft radios and a captured radar station. This collection led to the publishing of new technical material, to include the following:

• Technical manuals and handbooks on enemy weapons.
• Training aids.
• Updates to handbooks on the German and Italian armies.

The US started a successful TECHINT program in the fall of 1943, but abandoned the program immediately after the war.

12-3. At the beginning of the Korean War, the US finally discovered it had little hard data on enemy weapon systems. The DOD realized that TECHINT had to be ongoing if effective countermeasures were to be developed. Once again, TECHINT was established.

12-4. During the Vietnam War, the Captured Materiel Exploitation Center was established. Its mission was to manage and coordinate analysis of CEE and technical documents. The CMEC dispatched teams of experts and analysts into the tactical zone of each corps to evaluate and exploit captured items.

12-5. During the Gulf War, coalition forces and the US Army captured a tremendous amount of enemy munitions. The US was faced with the dilemma of how to handle and dispose of these munitions. While CEA doctrine and procedures were briefly mentioned in several documents, thorough, concise procedures were not available.

12-6. The TECHINT mission is the end product of a complex process that involves collecting, analyzing, and processing information on foreign technology and CEM. It is also the result of studying the performance of foreign materiel, including munitions and their operational capabilities. Foreign materiel encompasses the following:

• Weapon systems.
• Equipment.
• Apparatus.
• Documents.
• Technology.
• Munitions.
• Supplies of a foreign military force or nonmilitary organization.

12-7. Like other intelligence disciplines, TECHINT guards against surprise in war or SASO. It provides several distinct types of input to the all-source intelligence product, as follows:

• Assessment of capabilities and vulnerabilities of enemy weapon systems.
• Warnings of changes in enemy tactics due to new or changing technology.
• Countermeasures.

12-8. The TECHINT system has two parts within DOD. The first is the S&TI community, which concentrates on decision-making and the TECHINT requirements of strategic policy. The second is made up of the US Army's battlefield TECHINT elements. These elements support commanders in preparing for and waging war or conducting SASO. The two parts are described below.

12-9. The scientific and intelligence activities discussed in this section are primarily concerned with peacetime exploitation of foreign materiel, including CEA.

12-10. The USAIA is a field-operating agency of the DCS that produces and disseminates intelligence information on foreign ground forces and their weapon systems. Also, it provides threat analysis and related projections to the Army's combat development community.

12-11. NGIC produces and maintains intelligence on foreign scientific developments, ground force weapons systems, and associated technologies.

12-12. The USAMC shares responsibility for managing the overt acquisition of foreign materiel for TECHINT purposes. The USAMC buys foreign materiel for exploitation purposes in the US, as well as through its centers in Europe and the Far East.

12-13. The INSCOM has the major responsibility for SASO TECHINT operations. It fulfills this responsibility through its TECHINT oversight function and by exercising operational control over the FMIG during SASO.

12-14. At EAC, the FMIG is a battalion-sized organization located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. This group is the Army's only active duty TECHINT unit. Responsibilities of the FMIG include the following:

• Conducting TECHINT operations.
• Preparing TECHINT reports in support of Army, joint, and combined operations.
• Acting as the HQDA executive agent for foreign materiel used for training purposes.

12-15. The primary responsibility of ARDEC during SASO is to perform detailed evaluations of foreign munitions. ARDEC is located at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

12-16. TECHINT activities on the battlefield are usually initiated at the unit level with subsequent involvement of other specialized support teams, command level staffs, and higher echelon organizations with direct responsibility for planning, operations, and logistics.

12-17. Response units start the TECHINT process. They are responsible for initial identification, reporting, and safe handling of CEA. Types of response units are discussed briefly below.

12-18. Capturing unit. The capturing unit is the first unit that discovers or captures enemy munitions. Recovery and evacuation of CEA is a command responsibility at all echelons. After reporting the CEA, the capturing unit's biggest responsibility is to provide security of the CEA until the unit receives disposition instructions. The immediate headquarters of the capturing unit is responsible for the following:

• Obtaining and providing prompt disposition instructions.
• Assisting the capturing unit with safeguarding, recovering, and evacuating the CEA.

The capturing unit may be required to help destroy or coordinate the movement of CEA. Once the CEA is turned over to another unit or collection point, the capturing unit is relieved of further responsibilities.

12-19. Explosive ordnance disposal. EOD units identify and request disposition of first-seen ordnance and CEA of intelligence value and, if required, attempt render-safe procedures. The EOD unit submits required reports through TECHINT channels, if requested.

12-20. US Army Technical Escort Unit. The TEU has a worldwide mission to secure, transport, and dispose of nuclear, chemical, or biological CEA after EOD personnel have classified it as safe to handle. The TEU has EOD resources.

12-21. TECHINT teams. TECHINT teams initially identify and exploit CEA. They assist corps and divisional tactical operations centers. TECHINT teams rarely perform detailed analysis because there are so few teams and few laboratory facilities. These teams normally consist of a team leader and ten specialists, one from each of the following specialties:

• Tracked vehicles.
• Wheeled vehicles.
• Weapon systems.
• NBC equipment.
• Fire control systems.
• Aviation fire control systems.
• Intercept and jamming equipment.
• Communications equipment.
• Medical equipment.
• Antitank guided missiles.
• Munitions.

12-22. Staffs at all levels use TECHINT information to update and develop plans to support the commander's intent. Based on this information, staffs advise the commander of capabilities and technological advances of opposing forces during war and SASO.

12-23. Intelligence staff. The J2, G2, or S2 serves as the commander's principal staff office for all MI matters. This staff has primary responsibility for the commander's battlefield TECHINT effort.

12-24. Operations staff. The J3, G3, or S3 serves as the commander's principal advisor for operations, plans, organization, and training. This staff incorporates TECHINT into all parts of unit plans and operations.

12-25. Logistics staff. The J4, G4, or S4 serves as the commander's principal staff office for supply, maintenance, transportation, and services. As the logistics planner, this staff coordinates accountability, movement, and resupply and is essential to the TECHINT system.

12-26. Intelligence units and activities receive, evaluate, process and disseminate information from response units and staffs. They ensure the TECHINT information is channeled to the appropriate intelligence agency.

12-27. Military intelligence units. During routine operations, MI units may accidentally discover incidental items of battlefield TECHINT. All MI units are responsible for establishing procedures for handling, screening, and reporting TECHINT-related items. Also, these units coordinate with operations and logistics staffs on intelligence matters. MI unit missions include the following:

• Interrogation.
• Document exploitation.
• Imagery interpretation.
• Electronic warfare.
• Unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

12-28. Captured materiel exploitation center. The CMEC is formed from the assets of organic and attached TECHINT elements augmented by other SMEs. (See Figure 12-1) It manages the command battlefield TECHINT system through the MI brigade and the G2. When possible, other armed services should combine assets for the acquisition and exploitation of CEM, to include CEA. When this occurs, the CMEC becomes the JCMEC.

12-29. Joint captured materiel exploitation center. The JCMEC consists of TECHINT personnel from each participating service. As in the CMEC, the JCMEC commander is the TECHINT advisor to the J2.

12-30. Many other units may be involved in TECHINT operations involving CEA. The depth of involvement depends on the specific CEA found. These units may include the following:

• Combat arms.
• Special operations.
• Military police.
• Chemical.
• Medical.
• Engineer.
• Civil affairs.
• CSS units.

12-31. Each unit involved with CEA has specific responsibilities related to recovery, evacuation, safety, transportation, storage, and management. These units and their responsibilities are discussed below.

12-32. The transportation of CEA is typically part of logistical support requirements. Because it is critical that CEA be transported safely, it is being given special emphasis here.

12-33. The theater commander through the CMEC directs final disposition of CEA. Before moving CEA, an EOD or TEU team must certify that it is safe to handle and transport. An ammunition inspector should be consulted about safe loading, tie-down, and transportation procedures. The capturing unit should coordinate this support early in the planning process. Both the CMCC and CMMC must be involved in planning any movement of CEA.

12-34. The shipping activity must properly load and tie down all munitions, including CEA. The shipper must provide guidance to drivers on all aspects of safety and instruct them on proper firefighting procedures.

12-35. Accountability procedures for CEA are identical to procedures used for us munitions. Motor vehicle drivers sign for the shipment on a DD Form 1384 and are responsible only for the total number of pallets or boxes on their vehicles. Drivers do not sign the shipping documents, which are in the shipping envelope attached to the munitions pallets or boxes.

12-36. The collection point commander or NCOIC is responsible for the receipt, storage, issue, shipment, and accountability of the CEA. Once the CEA is received at an ASA, an ammunition inspector inspects the CEA and determines its serviceability.

12-37. CEA is always stored separately from US stocks. It is stored and accounted for in the same manner as like US munitions. All Army activities holding CEA are required to account for the materiel IAW the basic accounting principles of ARs 710-2 and 735-5 and DA Pams 710-2-1 and 710-2-2. Serviceable CEA must be separated from unserviceable CEA within the CEA storage location. Based on the commander's assessment of the threat and risks involved, CEA will be stored at the ASA under one of the following systems:

• Peacetime. Storage by NEW and SCG.
• SASO and Wartime. Storage by gross tons and SCG (when approved by MACOM commander.

12-38. The site commander or NCOIC reports and requests disposition instructions through logistic channels as directed by the servicing MMC. If the CEA is retrograded, the procedure is the same as for like US munitions.

12-39. Ordnance, aviation, medical, transportation, and quartermaster units may be called upon to perform the following tasks:

• Recover and retrograde CEA.
• Establish collection points.
• Operate collection points.
• Maintain storage location records.
• Submit reports on CEA in logistic channels.

12-40. When a soldier or unit finds munitions, the finding must be reported immediately through command channels to the battalion S2. The report will follow the SALUTE report format (see Figure 12-2). FM 21-16, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Procedures, may be used to make a tentative identification of the munitions (i.e., projectile, grenade, or bomb). The report may be submitted orally or in writing by any means available. The soldier or unit then safeguards the found munitions or continues the mission as directed.

12-41. Intermediate echelons of command forward the SALUTE report to the supporting battlefield TECHINT element. The TECHINT element sends disposition instructions back to the capturing unit. Usually, the instructions direct the unit to continue safeguarding the CEA until an EOD team or a TECHINT element arrives. Once on site, the EOD team, TECHINT element, or higher element determines if the items found have intelligence value. The higher headquarters may direct the capturing unit to initiate evacuation or simply abandon the CEA. When abandoning CEA, the responsible unit must mark the site. CEE tags, placed on stakes near the item, will be used to describe the CEA (see Figure 12-3). There are no special tags for CEA. Do not attach tags directly to hazardous munitions.

12-42. Proper marking of the site makes it easy to find the CEA once the capturing unit leaves. Also, it alerts others crossing the area that CEA has been found and reported. Marking includes any of the following methods:

• Use engineer tape or other materials and post signs to mark the area.
• Build a small berm around the stack or CEA area.
• Surround the area with CEE-tagged stakes.

12-43. EOD, TEU, and TECHINT teams are qualified to identify captured munitions. An EOD response team may be dispatched to a site to investigate and render safe the munitions. If an EOD team cannot be sent immediately, the CEA will be marked and left for later evaluation. TEUs have EOD resources available and may be able to render safe the CEA.

12-44. TECHINT teams are sent to CEA sites to complete technical intelligence reporting. If a TECHINT team is not available, an EOD team may be asked to identify and evaluate the CEA and activate the TECHINT reporting process. EOD may be directed to segregate and/or dispose of the CEA if it is hazardous or armed. If the CEA has chemical fillers, a TEU may be requested to evaluate, process, and evacuate the CEA.

12-45. If the item is identified as a first-seen CEA, the TECHINT team, EOD team, or TEU forwards a PRETECHREP through command channels to the CMEC (see Figure 12-4). The PRETECHREP gives a general description of the CEA and alerts tactical units to technical information of immediate tactical importance.

12-46. Based on the PRETECHREP, EOD teams may be asked to prepare the Type B COMTECHREP (see Figure 12-5), which is specifically for EOD. It includes the CEA itself or summaries, diagrams, photos, and samples. Type A COMTECHREP is for USAF TECHINT items. The Type C COMTECHREP is for items not reported on the Type A or B report. If the CMEC directs destruction of the CEA, the EOD team completes the disposal. Once the CEA is destroyed or moved to a collection point, the capturing unit is no longer responsible for the munitions. For more information, see FM 34-54.

12-47. CEA can be evacuated to the nearest collection point once the TECHINT element determines it has no intelligence value. Corps or division establishes CEA collection sites, usually at primary Class V ASAs. These collection points may be at any one of the ASAs or ATPs.

12-48. Capturing unit transportation assets may be used to evacuate CEA to the nearest collection point. The mission of the capturing unit must be considered when deciding whether the unit will evacuate the CEA. Transportation units may transport CEA from the site of discovery to the collection point or to the rear.

12-49. The capturing unit's higher headquarters, along with the DISCOM and COSCOM, coordinates required transportation. The local MCT notifies the collection point commander of an inbound shipment. EOD, QASAS, or other munitions personnel provides guidance on safe handling and evacuation of CEA. Trained munitions personnel supervise handling and shipment of CEA. CEA is transported in the same manner as similar types of US munitions.

12-50. In certain situations, if a threat exists, the CEA may be evacuated before evaluations or reports are completed. The theater commander determines disposition of CEA through the TECHINT element and the CMEC. See Figure 12-6, for a diagram of CEA movement in a mature theater.

12-51. In an immature theater, movement to a collection point may be left out to return CEA to the rear. The intelligence element or EOD team notifies the local commander of the CEA. The movement is coordinated within the division or corps by the DISCOM or COSCOM. A TEU team should escort chemical or biological material to the nearest collection point or rear.

12-52. The CMEC is the first real processor of CEA. When it receives CEA, the CMEC determines its level of TECHINT value. If the item is on the TECHINT requirement list, or it is of TECHINT interest, the CMEC concentrates on exploiting the CEA for immediate tactical or operational use.

12-53. CMEC specialists conduct rapid, initial scientific and technological analyses of CEA in their battlefield laboratory. Any immediate countermeasure, information, or intelligence they develop is quickly distributed to appropriate combat, CS, and CSS units. At the same time, the CMEC quickly evacuates the CEA to CONUS for an in-depth exploitation of the item.

12-54. The CMEC coordinates evacuation of CEA of special TECHINT interest to and from the CMEC. For items that cannot be evacuated, CMEC organizes and deploys a quick reaction team to coordinate the evacuation of the item or to exploit it on site.

12-55. CEA must be inventoried and accounted for just like US munitions. If CEA arrives at a collection point unidentified but clearly recognized as a projectile, propelling charge, fuze, and so forth, then a pseudo catalog data record may be designated and entered into SAAS to account for the item. The supporting MMC assigns and standardizes pseudo catalog data records within the theater.

12-56. In unique circumstances, CEA may be issued to using units in the same manner as US munitions. All requests for serviceable CEA are approved and assigned a priority for issue to US units engaged in special missions or training by higher headquarters. CEA is issued based on the following priorities:

• Intelligence.
• Special warfare.
• Special operations forces.
• Combat units.
• CS and CSS units.
• Substitutes or supplements to US munitions.

12-57. Serviceable CEA is evacuated, collected, and stored wherever directed by higher headquarters. The CMEC, in coordination with the TAMMC or CMMC, usually makes this decision. Emergency or immediate destruction of serviceable CEA takes place under the following conditions:

• If recapture is imminent due to location of the CEA.
• If EOD or TECHINT declares the CEA hazardous to the safety of troops.

If the CEA is to be destroyed, all factory markings should be carefully recorded (and photographs taken, if possible) before destruction.

12-58. ASAs routinely destroy unserviceable CEA. However, the following points must be considered before destruction takes place:

• ASAs must first support all demolition requirements of US units with on-hand demolition materials.
• If disposal of US munitions using serviceable demolition material has been authorized by higher headquarters, CEA should be included in that operation.
• Unserviceable CEA will be included only if added demolition materials are not required. Higher headquarters approval is not needed for the addition of unserviceable CEA when sufficient demolition materials are on hand.
• The ASA commander must select an appropriate disposal method for CEA that does not use serviceable demolition materials.

12-59. Certain types of CEA have high potential for intelligence value. Capturing and support units should understand the importance of adhering to handling, reporting, and transportation requirements. Safety is implicit in the responsibilities of any type unit involved with CEA. Munitions units in particular must exercise caution and follow good management practices in storing, moving, and disposing of CEA. Loss of personnel due to detonation of munitions caused by improper handling, processing, and transportation reduces the significance of any intelligence value.